Free, Reliable Solar

3 Simple Steps to Go Solar.

This is not a rebate program. There are ZERO up-front costs and we handle everything from installation to long term maintenance. So what’s the catch? There is none. We pay for everything.

Fill out the application.

It only takes a few minutes save big.

We will check things like location, roof material, shading and some other important variables to see if you qualify

Receive Approval

No cost to you ever.

For qualifying locations, PowerFin will install a solar system on your rooftop and sell the electricity generated back to CPS Energy.

Get rewarded.

This will result in an average monthly savings of 20-30% on your electricity bill.

In return for hosting that system, you will receive $0.03 per kilowatt-hour for every kilowatt-hour that the system generates. The credit will automatically show up on your monthly CPS Energy bill.

Start Saving Now

Get your system installed at no cost to you.

We are reviewing all applications from the pilot program and will be conducting site inspections and solar panel installations over the next several months. Thanks for your interest in spreading solar power in our community.

What is a Solar Host?

It means you don’t pay a thing to save money and give back to the environment.

What does it mean to be a solar host? Much like private ownership of solar systems, a homeowner or business would “host” a solar system on their roof. The difference with SolarHosting is that the homeowner or business owner, YOU, would not pay anything at all to have the system installed and maintained.

What does it mean to be a solar host? Much like private ownership of solar systems, a homeowner or business would “host” a solar system on their roof. The difference with SolarHosting is that the homeowner or business owner, YOU, would not pay anything at all to have the system installed and maintained.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Nothing, in fact you will receive a $0.03 credit from CPS Energy on your bill for every kilowatt-hour that your panels generate. An average residential customer will save about 20-30% on their monthly electricity bill, without paying anything!

You’ll let the CPS Energy partner, PowerFin, know that you’re interested by filling out your information in the form on this website. PowerFin will do a desktop review to figure out if your house is a good candidate for solar.

The review process will be on a rolling basis as hosts apply to the program. Once your home is evaluated, PowerFin will contact you to let you know if your home is a good candidate. If it is, the rest of the review process should take about 3 – 4 weeks to determine if you’ve been selected as a SolarHost.

After that, it will take about 4 – 5 weeks to get the proper permits and then 3-4 days to install the system on your roof. Once everything is installed and approved, you’ll start generating electricity which will be sold to CPS Energy for use by the community. In exchange, each month you’ll receive a credit from CPS on your electric bill of $0.03 for every kilowatt-hour that your panels generate, resulting in average monthly electricity bill savings of 20-30%.

Each roof will be evaluated by the PowerFin team. The initial review will be done using satellite imagery to assess roof orientation and shading. If the initial factors look good, then a PowerFin representative will contact you to set up an on-site evaluation.

There are a couple of benefits to you as a SolarHost. First, you will see a credit on your bill for the electricity that the panels on your roof generate. That means a lower monthly bill for you. In addition, by being a host, you are helping CPS Energy and our city meet important renewable energy goals that keep our city running for generations to come!

Yes, rental properties are allowed in the program. The landlord/property owner must submit the application, support the program and understand that the host credit will go to the CPS account holder (tenant paying the electricity bill) for the property hosting the system. At this time we cannot transfer the host credit to a different property.

HOAs cannot block homeowners from installing solar panels and thanks to Texas House Bill 362 and Texas Senate Bill 1626, homeowners have the right to have solar panels on their homes without resistance from their HOAs. That said, you still should contact your HOA to let them know you plan to have solar panels installed on your home. SolarHost can provide standard form documents to provide to your HOA.

Once we examine your application, you should expect 3-6 weeks to move through the evaluation process. This depends on when the on-site evaluation can be scheduled. If your home qualifies for the SolarHost program, the permitting and approval process for the rooftop solar system should take about 5 – 6 weeks. (8-12 weeks total time)

Most solar panels have a 25-year warranty, and if you are approved for the SolarHost San Antonio program, we will install panels that will stay on your roof for a period of 20 years. You will receive a solar host credit each month on your CPS Energy bills for 20 years. At the end of 20 years, we will remove the equipment and return your roof to its original condition.

With Roofless Solar (community solar), you have no panels on your roof. Instead, you buy “shares” in a solar farm that are treated like a stock. You own them outright and sell the energy they produce to the project operator, who then sells it to CPS Energy for use by the entire community in exchange for credits on your bill. The more panels or “shares” you own, the more electricity you generate, the higher your bill credit.

Yes, this truly is the only free solar program offered through CPS Energy. PowerFin, installs, owns, and operates the SolarHost equipment. You receive benefits just by letting us use your roof for 20 years.

SolarHost is, in fact, the only truly free solar program in the San Antonio area. Some solar salespeople have claimed that their equipment is free, but ultimately you will have to pay, either with a loan or money out of your own pocket, to buy the equipment. SolarHost is a co-branded program of CPS Energy and PowerFin, and is the only truly free solar program. More information can be found at this CPS Energy website.